……
Questions & Answers about Welke appel smaakt zoet?
What does Welke mean in this sentence, and how is it used?
Welke translates as “which” in English. In this sentence, it functions as an interrogative adjective modifying the noun appel to ask about a specific item among a possible set of apples.
Why is the verb smaakt used in this form?
The verb smaakt is the third-person singular form of smaken (to taste). It is used here because it agrees with the singular subject appel. This form follows the regular Dutch conjugation rules.
Why is zoet placed after the verb instead of directly before appel?
In Dutch, when an adjective serves as a predicate — that is, it describes the subject via a linking verb — it comes after the verb. Here, zoet is a predicate adjective linked by smaakt, which describes the taste of the apple.
Does the sentence follow typical Dutch word order for questions?
Yes, it does. The structure starts with the interrogative adjective welke, followed by the subject appel, then the verb smaakt, and finally the predicate adjective zoet. This order is common for Dutch questions that are built around a linking verb.
Can you explain the overall structure and meaning of Welke appel smaakt zoet?
Certainly. The sentence comprises: • Welke appel – where welke (which) modifies appel (apple) to specify the item. • smaakt – the main verb in third-person singular form that means “tastes.” • zoet – a predicate adjective describing the quality of the apple’s taste. Together, the sentence translates to “Which apple tastes sweet?” in English, asking to identify the apple that has a sweet taste.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?”
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning DutchMaster Dutch — from Welke appel smaakt zoet to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions